Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of acceptance about trabeculectomy and to determine patient-perceived barriers to trabeculectomy among glaucoma patients attending Ophthalmology clinic at Chakwal. .
Study Design: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted.
Place and duration of study: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was done among 32 glaucoma patients who visited Munawar Memorial Hospital Chakwal Out Patient Department (OPD) during September – November 2023.
Material and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was done among 32 glaucoma patients who visited Munawar Memorial Hospital Chakwal Out Patient Department (OPD) during September – November 2023. Informed consent for this research was formally sought from Hospital administrators and from study participants. The glaucoma cases were 30-80 years old and were recommended by ophthalmologist to undergo trabeculectomy and were enrolled in the study through consecutive non-probability sampling. All study participants were subjected to detailed ophthalmic examination. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure were also gauged. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to gather responses of the glaucoma patients pertaining to acceptance and barriers to trabeculectomy. Data was analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2019 software. Descriptive statistics were applied.
Results: Mean age of the 32 glaucoma cases who were recommended trabeculectomy was 62 ± 4.3 years and 56.3% of them were females. 66.7% patients were aware about their type of glaucoma and healthcare implications of trabeculectomy. About 54% cases were willing to undergo trabeculectomy while 8.4% were not at all willing for this surgery. Surgery expenditure and fear of becoming blind were the key barriers to trabeculectomy.
Conclusion: Most of the recommended glaucoma patients were willing to undergo trabeculectomy for rectification of their visual impairment. Cost of treatment and fear of post-operative blindness were the chief barriers to trabeculectomy.
Keywords: barriers, glaucoma, trabeculectomy
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